JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

An assessment of the home management training needs of domestic workers in selected regions of the Ethekwini Municipal Area

Ngidi, Buyisiwe Ethel (2003-12)

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.

Thesis

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Domestic workers form an integral part of many South African households and enable
their employers to be economically productive. Most employers are dissatisfied with
their employees' performance, while domestic workers accuse their employers of
insensitivity.
Work-related conflict between these parties occurs as a result of domestic workers' lack
of knowledge and skills on various aspects of home management. It was essential to
determine the level of domestic workers' knowledge on various home management
aspects. This would indicate how to intervene in order to increase their productivity and
to promote harmonious working relations between them and their employers.
The purpose of this research was to assess the domestic workers' learning needs in
home management. Employers' views were also sought regarding both the home
management skills they required of their domestic workers and their expectations with
regard to a proposed domestic workers' home management training programme, with
the aim of determining whether there is a need for a training programme. The data
gleaned in this manner would ensure that the ensuing intervention strategy would be
relevant to the needs of both groups.
A survey was carried out for the needs assessment process. The research instruments
used for data collection from 100 domestic workers, were interviewing schedules using
a tape recorder and incidental observation and questionnaires for 100 employers. The
SPSS Win programme was used to analyze the data. Conclusions drawn indicated that all domestic workers involved were females who were
heterogeneous in age and levels of education. Most were from impoverished rural areas
and were single parents with many dependants. Numerous problems experienced in the
workplace had led to a high turnover.
All domestic workers lacked knowledge and skills in various home management
aspects. Domestic workers and the majority of employers felt that training in all aspects
of home management was essential.
Recommendations based on these conclusions were the following:
• The state should establish and subsidize comprehensive domestic workers' training
programmes in order to empower domestic workers with skills, which would ensure
increased productivity and reduce unemployment.
• Government officials should facilitate workshops for the employers of domestic
workers in South Africa to ensure that all such will apply the relevant laws. This will
result in reduced turnover and less conflict.
• The state should make adult basic education and training programmes accessible to
all, in order to address the problem of illiteracy, which impacts negatively on the
domestic workers' job performance.
Based on the findings, it can be concluded that domestic workers are ignorant of
various aspects of home management. To address this problem, a holistic home
management- training programme is regarded as a solution by both domestic workers
and their employers.